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<br />August 21, 2006 (Regular Meeting) <br /> <br />Page 74 <br /> <br />Office and Detention Center. Finally, he reported the rules worked well and <br />that both sides were pleased. <br /> <br />Commissioner Carpenter asked if the 10 minute rebuttal period was <br />adequate, or should it be increased to 15 minutes. <br /> <br />Mr. Koch stated the 45 minute time period for each side at the Cabarrus <br />County Planning and Zoning Meeting was adequate, everyone in attendance had <br />an opportunity to speak, and the rules can be modified at the September <br />hearing to make sure everyone is heard. Based on the parties' familiarity <br />with the case, he said a total of 55 minutes for each side should be <br />adequate. <br /> <br />UPON MOTION of <br />unanimously carried, <br />Brothers Conditional <br />Hearing as presented. <br /> <br />Vice Chairman Juba, seconded by Commissioner Freeman and <br />the Board adopted the Rules of Procedure for the Wayne <br />District Application for the September 5, 2006 Public <br /> <br />(G-1) Industrial Development Incentive Grant - PreGel USA/Lares Real Estate <br />USA - Public Hearing - 6:30 p.m. <br /> <br />Ryan McDaniels, Director of Cabarrus Economic Development Corporation <br />(EDC), presented a request by PreGel USA/Lares Real Estate USA for an <br />incentive grant pursuant to the Industrial Development Incentive Grant <br />program guidelines as amended on July 10, 2006. He said the company is <br />evaluating a site at the International Business Park in Concord for <br />construction of a 100,000 square feet gelato manufacturing facility. The <br />projected investment is $8.5 million ($7.6 million in real estate and <br />$900,000.00 in equipment). He said this facility will serve as the company's <br />training and distribution center and their North American headquarters. <br />Based on the proj ected investment and the grant at 85 percent for three <br />years, he said the company would pay an estimated $145,120.50 in County <br />taxes; receive an incentive of approximately $123,352.43 yielding a net to <br />the County of $21,768.08. Finally, he reported the EDC Board of Directors <br />recommended approval of the incentive and the City of Concord will consider <br />the grant request at its September 15 meeting. <br /> <br />Vice Chairman Juba <br />USA/Lares Real Estate <br />presentation. <br /> <br />reported she met with representatives from <br />USA and said they were very thorough in <br /> <br />PreGel <br />their <br /> <br />Mr. McDaniels responded to questions on the number of new jobs created <br />in Cabarrus County and he reported this company is the first real net benefit <br />from the North Carolina Research Campus project. <br /> <br />At 7:51 p.m., Chairman Carruth opened the public hearing on the <br />Industrial Development Incentive Grant for PreGel USA/Lares Real Estate USA. <br />The Public Hearing Notice was published on August 8, 2006 in THE INDEPENDENT <br />TRIBUNE. <br /> <br />Connie Leaper, a life long resident of Cabarrus County, thanked the <br />Board for the opportunity to speak on the incentive grant request and to the <br />Clerk for her assistance. She spoke on a concept called "First Source <br />Hiring" where local residents in the city, county and the state where the <br />company will locate to are hired first. She said granting incentives is a <br />very competitive process, is a good idea and that Cabarrus County is an <br />exci ting place to be now and in the next ten years because of the North <br />Carolina Research Campus. She said there will probably be lots of companies <br />that will want to relocate to this area and asked the Board to consider what <br />companies will corne here any way without incentives. Ms. Leaper reiterated <br />her support of incentive grants and stated she is part of a group called the <br />Southeast Regional Economic Justice Network. She said this group holds <br />workshops and produces educational materials to help the general public <br />understand complicated issues like self-financing bonds, etc., and how to <br />become more involved in governmental and political activities. Finally, she <br />asked the Board to consider the First Source Hiring concept when considering <br />future incentive grant requests. <br /> <br />There was a brief discussion on the number of jobs to be created. <br /> <br />Wi th there being no one else to address the Board, Chairman Carruth <br />closed the Public Hearing at 7:57 p.m. <br /> <br />UPON MOTION of Commissioner Carpenter, seconded by Vice Chairman Juba <br />and unanimously carried, the Board approved a 3-year incentive grant for <br />PreGel USA/Lares Real Estate USA equivalent to 85 percent of the ad valorem <br />